A biotinylated 11-deoxycortisol tracer was synthesized from 11-deoxycortiso
l-3-carboxymethyloxime and the conjugate obtained by acylation of biotinyla
minopropylammonium trifluoroacetate, This biotinylated tracer was used to d
evelop an 11-deoxycortisol time-resolved-fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA). The tr
acer was quantified after adding strsptavidine-Europium. A TR-FIA sensitive
standard curve. with displacement of 20, 50. and 80% of tracer was obtaine
d with 12.4. 70.7, and 512.8 pg of 11-deoxycortisol, respectively. After ex
traction followed by Celite chromatography. purified serum samples were sim
ultaneously assayed by RIA and TR-FIA. The results obtained by the two meth
ods were practically identical, however, this new specific. non-isotopic 11
-deoxycortisol assay has the advantage of being more sensitive than RIA, th
us well-suited to accurate measurement in endocrinological studies, particu
larly when serum 11-deoxycortisol levels in patients are just above the hig
hest normal values. Moreover, this non-isotopic assay is cheaper than RIA.
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